At least 50 fishermen were injured, several with bullet wounds, after a group of armed assailants looted 10 fishing trawlers in the Bay of Bengal early Thursday (April 10).

The incident took place in the Boro Baijda area, approximately 120 kilometres southeast of Patharghata upazila in Barguna district. 

However, the identity of the attackers remains unknown.

The assailants reportedly looted fish and other supplies before opening fire and beating the fishermen. Among the trawlers targeted were FB Tarek-2 and FB Tufan-2 of Sagir Company, FB Raju owned by Nur Mohammad, and FB Ma owned by Selim Chowdhury.

Quoting crew member Monir Hossain of FB Ma trawler owner Selim Chowdhury said the assailants launched a sudden armed attack late at night while the vessels were fishing. 

“When the fishermen tried to resist, the bandits boarded the trawlers, beat them, and opened fire from a distance,” he said.

Chowdhury added that contact with many of the fishermen has been lost since the incident. “They are out of network coverage, and we have no update on their condition or whether they’ve received treatment.”

Golam Mostafa Chowdhury, president of the Barguna District Fishermen Trawler Owners Association, said the Coast Guard and local police were alerted immediately after news of the robbery surfaced.

Barguna Superintendent of Police Md. Ibrahim confirmed they were informed of the incident by trawler owners and said efforts are underway to gather more details.

BDST: 1404 HRS, APR 10, 2025
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